Dhampus Peak Climbing

Today is dedicated to the last preparations for tomorrow’s hike and climb. We’ll schedule a time to meet with your guide, give you a full orientation, and double-check the quality of your gear. You’ll have time to do some last-minute shopping or sightseeing in the neighborhood.

The journey by bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes around seven hours and passes through several rolling hills and swiftly moving rivers. The bus leaves Kathmandu and winds its way up the mountain routes as it gradually ascends in altitude. The route travels through a number of tiny towns and villages, some of which may be seen through the window of the bus.

After passing through Dumre and over the Trishuli bridge, the route to Pokhara from Kathmandu continues to be winding and sluggish for the final few hours of the journey.

From Pokhara, we will travel for about an hour and a half to Nayapul, where our trip will begin. Nayapul is a beautiful farming hamlet and trekking destination, with terraced fields carving the lower mountain slopes.

After a long day of hiking, we finally reached the Bantanthanti checkpoint, where our permits and TIM cards were scrutinized as we crossed a suspension bridge. The trail is tranquil, passing through sleepy farming communities and verdant mountain valleys as it follows the Bhurungdi Khola River. The hike is strenuous for several hours, but it’s worth it to see the picturesque towns, adorable Himalayan mountain dogs, and breathtaking landscapes along the way. Then, we’ll take a couple of hours to trek to Tikhedunga.

The many-step ascent from Tikhedunga to Ulleri may make your stroll difficult today. Trekkers and town-hopping horses or donkeys use the trail. The steps cease at Ulleri, but the elevation continues.

From Banthanti, the terrain changes drastically. You’ll see moss-covered bark, ferns, waterfalls, and deep forests. Things change above 2,300 m and higher.

Slowly trekking through rhododendron trees makes your walk meaningful. Rhododendrons will enchant the woodlands in April. Ghorepani revives us.

We’ll hike for about an hour in the early morning to get to the Poon Hill location, where we’ll see a sunrise we’ll never forget. After some steep walks, seeing the stars, and waking up to a quiet day, you will hit the special point where you can start to feel the altitude.

As we reach the top, the world starts to wake up with a pink glow. As the sun rises, the most beautiful mountains—Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhare, Annapurna II, and Lamjung—are spread out in front of us. You want to bottle up moments like this and keep them forever, and I didn’t think life could get any better than this.

After we’ve had some great times here, we’ll go back to Ghorepani for breakfast and then keep going to Tatopani.

Tatopani is known for its hot springs, and we relaxed in the piping hot pools, chatting with fellow trekkers. As we approached Tatopani, we crossed a bridge to the other side of the valley, enjoying the scenery we had just walked through. Waterfalls adorned the mountainsides, and we even found a perfect viewpoint with a gap in the flowers along a fence. The route offered beautiful views of the rushing river and diverse vegetation. We passed through small villages, witnessing local life without tourist amenities. We enjoyed an easy hike today, following an alternate trail on the east bank of the Kali Gandaki River.

As we make our way to Ghasa on foot, we stick to the Kaligandaki River. We will have a wonderful opportunity to observe both Dhaulagiri and Annapurna when we are traveling there. After that, we will go to Lete, and once we are there, we will continue on to Tukuche.

Acclimatization is very necessary for Tukuche from this point on since you will be traveling at an altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level. In this location, we will be conducting some training. It is essential to exercise your mind and body appropriately in order to acclimate to high altitudes.

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for the whole trip: the day you go to the top of Dhampus Peak! We will rise before dawn to beat the day’s high winds and make our way to our destination safely. Walking through the mist, you can see the clouds ablaze in the mountains. The scenery improves dramatically with altitude. Massive, snow-capped peaks fill the horizon.

Buddhist prayer flags float in the wind, adding beauty to the peak. There’s lots of room up there, and you can even see the snowy parts of the summit. Now that you’ve made it to the top, rest for a while and take in the view.

Enjoyable ascent aside, KaloPani (3,930m/12,893ft) is an acceptable destination. It’s safe to say that going down is simpler and quicker than going up. To get to Kalopani, you have to traverse the rugged terrain along the Kali Gandaki River.

Since we are returning to our route, today’s trek will be easy and quick. You’ll have to make your way through some subtropical vegetation before descending to the Kali Gandaki River and crossing a bridge to reach the waterfall. As you make your way back to Tatopani, take a moment to reflect on the journey thus far and the many breathtaking waterfalls you have seen.

After a few hours of ride from Tatopani, you’ll reach Beni. The journey is a pleasant 18 kilometers in length. The routes, which follow the Kaligandaki River, are mostly dirt and have some big rocks that make for an interesting ride. Drive back to Pokhara after spending some time in the town of Beni.

The Prithvi Highway links Pokhara and Kathmandu, and the ride between the two cities is indisputably beautiful. For the first half of the journey, the highway follows the Trisuli River, and as you approach closer to Pokhara, the high Himalayas become more visible in the distance. However, depending on the state of the roads and the volume of traffic, it may be a slow journey. A trip by bus can take as little as six hours on a good day, but it typically takes as many as seven or eight hours.